Overview & Reviews

Chevrolet sells an impressively wide range of vehicles, from subcompact hatchbacks to huge vans and SUVs. If you're looking for a reasonably priced vehicle, odds are that Chevy will have something to fit your needs.

Chevrolet got its start in 1911. After William C. Durant had been ousted from General Motors, he joined forces with Swiss-born racecar driver Louis Chevrolet to found the Chevrolet Motor Car Company. The company's first offering was the Classic Six. Introduced in 1912, this five-passenger touring sedan could top 65 mph, fast for the time. Chevrolet's storied bowtie logo -- reportedly inspired by the wallpaper of a Paris hotel room that Durant stayed at -- made its first appearance in 1914.

By 1918, Chevrolet's profitability allowed Durant to purchase enough shares in GM to regain control. Chevrolet became another division of GM, and was its largest volume division by the mid-1920s. By 1927, Chevrolet outsold rival Ford, with sales in excess of 1 million units.

In the mid-1930s Chevrolet introduced independent front suspension, which provided a smoother ride over the rough roads of the day. The 1940s saw continued success with affordable coupes, sedans and pickup trucks catering to American families, farmers and businessmen.

By the mid-1950s, Chevrolet, GM's entry-level division, had added a V8 engine, power steering and brakes, power windows and air-conditioning to its list of available features, allowing luxury for those on a tighter budget. Around this time the iconic Bel Air model -- available in coupe, sedan, convertible and wagon body styles -- proved very popular. The company introduced its alluring Corvette in 1953; the vehicle was the first mass-produced car with a fiberglass body.

The 1960s saw the unveiling of the popular, air-cooled Corvair compact, which held the distinction of being the first domestic production car with all-around independent suspension. That decade also witnessed the launch of the compact Nova, the midsize Chevelle and the sporty Camaro, the latter Chevrolet's answer to the wildly successful Ford Mustang. The Camaro proved an instant hit, comprising 10 percent of Chevrolet's total sales in 1967, its first year of production.

In the 1970s, Chevy responded to changing preferences by introducing small cars like the Vega and the Chevette, and by downsizing larger models such as the Caprice and Malibu. The company combated the market domination of foreign nameplates in the 1980s by rolling out the Cavalier. By the end of that decade, trucks and SUVs had started to become increasingly popular with the general consumer, and the brand's mid- and full-size models continue to this day to be some of the most popular on the road.

The '90s and the early 2000s saw the company raising the performance bar with its Corvette (notably the Z06 and, later, ZR1 variants) and reincarnated Impala SS. Chevrolet's Silverado pickup truck and Tahoe/Suburban SUVs continued to be hits as well. By 2010, the Camaro had returned to the lineup after a seven-year hiatus.

Modern times have seen Chevrolet make significant improvements in its small and midsize car models and introduce the Volt plug-in hybrid. The latter provides a nearly 40-mile range on electric power alone, and adds to the company's already well-rounded lineup of cars, trucks and SUVs. Though today's marketplace is very demanding, Chevrolet seems poised to remain a power player through its affordable and innovative vehicles.

User Reviews:

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  Awesome Ride - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Danno42 - November 24 - 7:19 pm

  This car is exhilarating to drive,handles great,and my 2ss has more power than i imagined. muscle car meets todays technology. Chevrolet has hit the mark. And as far as looks, mustangs are no contest.

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  Worth the wait - 2010 Chevrolet Camaro
  By David - November 24 - 4:42 pm

  Waited for three months to get my Camaro. Well worth the wait! Great car. SS would have been great but needed the all season tires of the v-6. A little hard to get into if you are very tall but performance for a v-6 is great and so is the gas mileage(getting 30). Wanted a Hurst shifter but do not need it. Shifts are short and smooth. Getting stripes (black on my yellow ) and tinting the windows.

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  Best Vehicle I ever bought - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox
  By Not a soccer mom - November 23 - 6:56 pm

  I am old enough to remember and appreciate the utility of station wagons. I can see why they dont make many of the any more. This CUV exceeds all my expectations Very easy to drive with pretty good visibility (except for right rear). Comfortable and quiet but still handles very well. Gas mileage is as advertised. The dash design is gorgeous and as good as or better than any of the competition in this price range.

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  look closely - 2010 Chevrolet Malibu
  By ralph - November 23 - 1:44 pm

  Bought LT1 v4 in April -- car is great but a little lacking on power when you need to get on express way. At this point you need to use the auto stick. Fit and finish is a little off. Look at the seams in the hood mine are off. Ride is sporty and some controls can be confusing. I dont get stated gas mileage, a little less. No mechanical problems -- reliable

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  i love my hhr - 2010 Chevrolet HHR
  By hornet7202 - November 23 - 9:31 am

  Folks told me she was so little she wouldnt be good in snow. I drove her up a mountain over a mile high on mud and ice with no fish tailing or sliding, the traction was wonderful and now can hardly wait to try her in the Maine winter here, although I worry about the road salt. I put the seats down and can do what I always did with my bigger vans. Dodge and Plymouth. Needless to say she preforms well. My biggest complaint was location for my coffee cup, it is very hard to reach and drive. She handles well on turnpike driving and in cities like Boston she is a breeze. Thanks Chevy for a Nice little car. I tell my children if I had money, Id have one in all the colors for each day of the week.

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  Malibu LTZ to the MAXX - 2006 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx
  By Kevin - November 23 - 3:23 am

  This is one of the best kept secrets at your local Chevy dealer. The quality, ride, interior function are world class. Chevrolet market needs to get the word out on this one. We drove the Maxx from Ohio to Fla in December and average 31 mpg! Tons of room and teenage sons and friend love the room.

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  Absolutly Awesome - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Binkey1313 - November 23 - 2:20 am

  I love almost everything about this car. Standard features are awesome! Drives beautifuly. Looks beautiful!

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  Very pleased with this sport wagon - 2006 Chevrolet HHR
  By Narg - November 22 - 7:46 pm

  The day I saw this vehicle, I called my wife. Within hours we knew this was the one for us. For a small car, its amazingly big in size and attitude. The ride is far beyond what youd expect, and its creature comforts are the best in its class. Even though it only has a 4 cylinder engine, its got plenty of pick up and go. I tested 0 to 60 in about 9 seconds, so its just as fast as needed for what well use it for. The steering is light and responsive, which is great for us since my wife will be driving it on a long commute once a week. Highway ride is awesome, quiet and smooth. We love the drive by wire feel. It is so fun to drive we cant seem to find enough errands to run.

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  Reliable, Fun, & Affordable Sports Car! - 1998 Chevrolet Camaro
  By Jozzy - November 22 - 1:50 pm

  I wanted an affordable, fun sports car for the summer and I got all of that and more. I love driving my Camaro and the T-Tops are a unique feature that adds to the style. Although I have 180,000 miles on the car, it still runs great. The body is in mint condition and has held up better than any other 98 vehicle on the road today. I chose the base due to the great reputation of the 3.8L V6 engine. It is still responsive, good fuel economy, and a champion of an engine. If you dont know, Wards Autoworld (and other reliable sources) rate GMs 3.8L V6 as one of the best engines ever built. No doubt, a good car for the money and everyone stares when I drive by.

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  WOW - 2003 Chevrolet Impala
  By bctc - November 22 - 2:00 am

  We love our new Impala. The get up and go is great!. We have the sport trim and moon roof. Could not ask for more